Sunday, September 23, 2012

High Tea with Ashatai....


These images encapsulate the spirit of Ganpati - Mumbai's adored deity. That's Anandita bidding goodbye to Aaliya and Jehangir's Ganeshji who was given a wonderful send-off in a decorated Jeep. The other image is of Ukdichhey Modak - a delicate, steamed prasad that is so well balanced in terms of flavours and textures, it merits an article of its own.Our Blogdost Aparna Velankar sent me this image with a promise to deliver the genuine article later this week. Aparna.... I am waiting! **************** Earlier in the evening, I had spent a mellow evening enjoying High Tea with Asha Bhonsale and her lovely daughter-in-law Anuja at Sea Lounge. Modaks were avidly discussed, along with several other Maharashtrian specialities that Ashatai cooks so expertly. She not just loves food, she loves feeding people. It goes back to her childhood when she used to cook for the family along with Meena, her sister. Asha was just 9 years old at the time! But this evening, she was in the mood to dig into scones and clotted cream, salmon sandwiches and mini chicken quiches. Knowing how particular she is about her diet and exercise, I was delighted to observe her eating heartily and saying sweetly.... "it's okay to indulge once in a while. And I won't eat dinner tonight." I reminded the 80-year-old Diva of the time she had come over to our home on her 60th Birthday and brought her unbeatable shammi kababs ,which we had pounced on! But by far the best part of the High Tea was when the pianist Jokim Crasto switched to playing old Asha Bhonsale numbers, adding his own Jazzy twist to ''Çhuraliya..." and other hits. What a warm and wonderful evening.... as Ashatai hummed along softly, avoided the imli chutney of the bhel, and talked fondly about her grand children, I felt I was in the blessed presence of an extraordinary woman whose amazing life has been so very rich.... and who has equally enriched countless other lives for decades with her golden voice.

9 comments:

Pooja Rathore said...

Nice post de.
Essence of the post shows that you really had a good time and i felt good reading the post.Modak pic is yummy:)

Votre Maman said...

damn that's a picture perfect modak !

Anonymous said...

what picture-perfect modaks! i miss home.

mridula pradhan said...

wah......so sweet.....

a mom's diet said...

wow! an evening with asha ji...
u sure are one of those lucky lucky ladies :) i have always loved her since my rj-ing days... want to meet her some day.
cheers!
-kunj
kohllined.blogspot.in

Anonymous said...

Surely goes to show. You reap what you sow.
Ms Asha is one in a million....

goodluck said...

Her name says it all. Asha Hope.
And bollywood made her a national treasure. And her contribution to bollywood is phenomenal. It is a mutual enrichment formula.

अपर्णा said...

Wow Aparna needs a big round of applaud for the perfectly carved :) modak...:)
"नारदाच्या वाक्याला बाबांनी टाळ्या"सारखं या पोस्टमध्ये सगळ्यात जास्त लक्षात राहतात ते मोदक :)

Anonymous said...

Nice Modak
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